We should show them we're sick of their games, and not vote. We should stick our long Israeli tongue out at the politicians. The campaigners. The consultants. We're sick of it. We should hold our little protest demonstration in front of the cynical leaders and avoid the polls at all – they deserve it. We should go hiking, all the streams are flowing beautifully, we should buy the kids clothes for the Seder, catch the end-of-season sales, we should invite friends over for a barbecue, the sun will be shining, we should sit outside on our lawn chairs.
But the state is not "them." It's us. And we don't have the privilege of ignoring this event, which is bizarrely reminiscent of a family celebration of people we can't stand: We don't feel like going, but we have no choice.
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If we demonstrate, it will be against ourselves. If we protest, we will only hurt ourselves. A decision to avoid participating in the democratic process is tantamount to leaving the country emotionally. It cuts the citizens off from the Great Tenant Committee that rules our communal building. Furthermore, it automatically puts power in the hands of those whose values are not your values. It's simple math: Every vote not cast for the camp you identify with is a vote cast for the adversary. Anyone who doesn't touch the blue cardboard box tomorrow is giving away their identity number to the competing bloc.
Any supporter of the Left to miss the election will be an easy win for the right, and vice versa – the Left will gain a vote from any rightist supporter who abstains. Moreover, a vote for a party that is sure to fail the electoral threshold is a gift you will be giving to the party you detest, as that too will strengthen your opponents. There's no choice. Between hiking along streams in the wadi and going to the mall, we must drop by the blue box and kiss it like we would an unsavory uncle. Blood is thicker than water. It's true they say you can't choose your family, but in the case of this family – the state – you do get to choose.
Faced with the voting ballots, we should ask who the best candidates are to lead the country. Who have proven themselves in action and not just in words? Who has a clear platform that is not just a bunch of clichés? And who is least likely to derail the democracy train yet again? I myself am going to vote for the same party I voted for last elections, which has yet to let me down. Look at the ballots and consider: Out of all of them, who will drag us to the blue box a fourth time, and who can prevent that fiasco.
